Genesee County's Champion of Asthma Education

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Picture of Jan Roberts

GRAND BLANC MI (11/10/2009)(readMedia)-- Jan Roberts, local American Lung Association volunteer, is November's featured "Volunteer of the Month" on the American Lung Association in Michigan website, www.alam.org.

Jan is being honored for her American Lung Association work with asthma education. She knows all about asthma.

As the Asthma Disease Manager at Hurley Medical Center in Flint, she has coordinated the Genesee County Asthma Network for the past 10 years. She's also an asthmatic who has had first hand experience being in the ICU from asthma complications.

Jan has been a valuable partner of the American Lung Association in Michigan since the inception of the Asthma 1-2-3 program (formally Asthma 101) in the early 2000's. She assisted in the development of the curriculum and was one of the first facilitators trained in the program. When a school is in need of an Asthma 1-2-3 in-service, Jan is always willing to lend a hand. Earlier this spring Jan even traveled with American Lung Association staff to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to conduct an in-service. There is nowhere she wouldn't go to connect with people and share her knowledge and expertise about asthma.

When asked what she is most passionate about Jan said, "I want to get across to people that you do not have to compromise your lifestyle because you have asthma. As long as you have good control you can do what everyone else is doing."

Recalling her experience in the ICU, Jan especially likes to get the message of control across to teenagers so they don't find themselves in the same situation.

In addition to the numerous hours Jan devotes to asthma education, she has also volunteered her time on the Grand Blanc Asthma Walk's Planning Committee for the past seven years.

In addition to being in the "volunteer of the month" at www.alam.org , Jan is currently featured in the "volunteer spotlight" for the American Lung Association of the Midland States (www.midlandlung.org). The Midland States coordinates programs and services for Michigan, Ohio, Kentucy and Tennessee.